Michale Jackson said study the greats. I've learned over time, after absorbing as much art as I could, that the greats are rare, and that there is no substitute for greatness. Greatness is the goal, greatness is the point. In order to really achieve one's potential, e must study how the greatest builders have realized as much of their potential as they have. Then the study list becomes extremely short. I stop watching every movie I can, and I just focus on Fincher. I just watch Fincher over and over again. This is because I've logically concluded that Fincher is truly exceptional. Temporarily exceptional isn't. It's just another illusion. All roads lead back to Elizabeth Taylor.
First, one must have a framework of value. What are the answers to these questions: Does genius exist? If it exists, who are its best examples? And how valuable is genius? Her are My answers: 1. Yes. 2. The best definition of genius I've ever heard is from Adam Smith. He says to succeed in a field where the odds are impossible is the only mark of genius. 3. It's more valuable than anything. The creative capaticy of the human being is the most valuable thing there is. The geniuses of history are more profundly valuable than any good or service. Their value trancends every limit of their historical existence.
There is a phrase that people use sometimes: "Credit where credit is due." To me, its an unspeakable crime not to give credit where credit is due. Value is value. Value is difficlut to create. But to diminish the value someone creates is to diminish the capacity of the human species. I think: Michael Jackson is inspiring, because he was a person. He was the most extroardinary person there could be, but the fact that he was a person. That's proof of why human beings are immensely inspiring and capable of much more than they can ever imagine. As Bowie said in The Prestige: "Man's grasp exceeds his nerve."
I am deeply moved by the SpaceX IPO. It's a profound miletone in our species. It's a staggering affirmation of the value of entrepeneurship, creativity, vision. OUr world is largley perverted. Meaning the best things about us are turned into weapons in order to steal worthless consolation prizes by using force. Teach aman to fish, eh? We live in a world where they kill the man who knows how to fish to steal a thousand fish vouchers. That doesn;t change the fact that you have to catch the fish in order to eat. But that's the way the world has been perverted. But beyond the noise, beyond the warring gangs, there exist individual examples of excellence so profound it makes all the madness worth it, even if just to witness a true victory of the species. The best part though, is that if you can witness value, you can create it. If you know what great is, you can be great yourself. That's why Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Elon Musk are among the most inspiring stories of any human life. Credit, Where credit is due. I reccomend to you the film "Marc by Sofia". Sofia Coppolas portrait of Marc Jacobs. Breaty is beyond valuable, greatness is greatness. Unfuckwithable.